COLUMBIA, S.C. — Animal health officials at Clemson University are urging owners of backyard chickens and pet waterfowl to isolate their flocks from wild waterfowl and any waters they inhabit after a rise in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) cases in South Carolina.
Backyard flocks in Horry and Orangeburg counties have contracted the European strain of HPAI, presumably from wild birds, causing major flock die-offs. In both cases, the flock owners self-reported die-offs, and the surviving birds were depopulated to keep the virus from spreading to other backyard flocks and possibly jeopardize the state's $1.5 billion poultry industry.
The birds in the reported cases were tested by the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center and then confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
Health experts say this strain of HPAI is considered low risk to humans but is highly contagious for poultry and pet waterfowl.
The warning signs of HPAI include:
- High death loss in a short amount of time
- Reduced energy, decreased appetite and/or decreased activity
- Lower egg production and/or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
- Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb and wattles
- Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs
- Difficulty breathing, runny nares (nose) and/or sneezing
- Twisting of the head and neck, stumbling, falling, tremors and/or circling
In December 2023, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) reported wild duck die-offs from avian flu in Clarendon, Colleton, and Williamsburg counties.
If you suspect your flock has been infected or you have seen sick or dead birds:
- report sick or dead poultry to Clemson Livestock Poultry Health by calling 803-788-2260 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or using the online report form
- report sick or dead wild waterfowl to SCDNR by calling 803-734-3886
For more information about HPAI and biosecurity measures, see the Clemson Livestock Poultry Health Avian Influenza website or the USDA's Defend the Flock Program website.